Google Maps mashup documents Libyan protests

Iranian Twitter activist Arasmus has created a Google Maps mash-up to document protesters' Twitter reports
during the Libyan anti-government uprising.

Last week, violent protests surged throughout the north
African country of Libya, as protesters clashed with security
forces in an attempt to end Muammar al-Gaddafi's 42-year
rule.

Like similar uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt -- which are said to have inspired the people of Libya --
the internet and social media have played their roles in the
unrest. Websites like Facebook, Twitter and news provider Al Jazeera have been
intermittently blocked, and on 18 February internet access in the
country was blocked entirely. Six hours later, the web was mostly
back.

Protesters in the country are now taking full advantage of
their restored connectivity by posting reports and accounts on Twitter. Arasmus takes the most pertinent, and trustworthy,
reports and places them on a Google Map on the country. So far, the
map shows reported gunfire, killings, mercenary sightings,
helicopter slayings and electricity disconnections.

The map isn't dynamically generated from Twitter reports,
but that's for safety reasons rather than technical ones, says
Arasmus. "The danger of an automatic map is that you will reveal
too much information too soon and put protesters in danger," he said
on his Twitter account.

It should also be noted that none of the reports and
accounts can be verified because Libya has a stringent lockdown on
independent reporters in the country. With violence at a huge scale
(Human Rights Watch says the death toll passed 100 after just four
days of protesting), undercover reporting isn't sensible, says BBC World News editor Jon Williams.

As a result, observers have to rely even more closely on
first hand reports and social media accounts than any of the other
recent Middle East revolutions.